Common but rarely abundant, this wildflower is found throughout the state of Texas. It's a winter annual or biennial, so look for it in the very early spring. The lacy-leaved, sprawling plant grows 4 to 14 inches tall, and has numerous, showy yellow flowers, 1/2 to 1 inch long, atop its branching stems. The upper petal has a curved spur. Corydalis can be found most often along the roadside or in disturbed soils. It prefers sandy or gravelly soils. It's interesting to note that Corydalis has been used in treating arthritis.
The Natives are Friendly
If you are a native of Texas, you more than likely know that Scrambled Eggs, Corydalis curvisiliqua, is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Corydalis is derived from the Greek word for crested lark because of the arched spur on the flower. With an adequate amount of rainfall over the winter and early spring, the countryside will be blessed with beautiful landscapes of Scrambled Eggs in early March. Its bright yellow flowers are a welcome sight after the dreary days of February.
In contrast to the bright yellow blooms, the leaf structure has an almost fernlike appearance. Scrambled Eggs prefer a prairie-like habitat and grow in open pastures and roadsides from Mexico north to Kansas. It grows in the sun or shade, and while in some cases it has been reported that this delicate dish has a tendency to be invasive, we have never thought this to be a problem. As soon as the temperatures begin to rise, Scrambled Eggs will set its seed for next year's show and begin to die back. This early batch of seeds are also some of the first seeds of the season ready for our seed-eating feathered friends.
As with most native plants, the Native Americans had a medicinal use for Corydalis. It contains alkaloids, and these toxic chemicals can be carefully managed to treat pain & inflammation. The Ojibwas often would breathe the smoke from roasted Corydalis roots to calm emotional upsets. Some other applications included a Corydalis tea that was used for women who had just gone through childbirth, and another use in treatment for nervous trembling. This fall add some Scrambled Eggs to your property, and in the spring you can have beautiful yellow spring blooms. It really is almost like magic.